Supreme Court of South Carolina
William J. Degenhart, Vincent J. Degenhart, and Robert W. Degenhart, Appellants v. Knights of Columbus, Respondent
July 13, 1992309 S.C. 114
Summary
The South Carolina Supreme Court affirmed the master‑in‑equity’s grant of summary judgment for Knights of Columbus, holding that the organization owed no negligent‑supervision or contractual duty to the Degenharts and that the pending motion to compel discovery did not stay the judgment.
Holding
- Whether Knights of Columbus owed a duty of negligent supervision to the Degenharts for Aun’s conduct. Knights of Columbus did not owe a duty of negligent supervision to the Degenharts and therefore is not liable on that theory.
- Whether a contractual duty arising from the field‑agent agreement extended to the Degenharts as third‑party victims. Knights of Columbus owed no contractual duty to the Degenharts because Aun’s alleged harmful activities were undertaken in his individual capacity, outside the scope of the agency contract.
- Whether the pending motion to compel discovery barred the grant of summary judgment. The pending motion to compel discovery did not prevent the master‑in‑equity from granting summary judgment because the Degenharts failed to preserve the issue or seek a continuance.
Docket 23684